Preparations for Saudi Arabia's first Founding Day are under way as Saudis look forward to three days of celebrations that begin on Tuesday.
King Salman announced a public holiday to commemorate the foundation of the First Saudi State, the Emirate of Diriyah, by Imam Mohammed bin Saud in 1727.
In February that year, bin Saud inherited leadership of the central Arabian town of Diriyah, which was established by his ancestors in the 15th century.
Founding Day activities will include traditional art and exhibitions of early photos to bring an audience of modern Saudis closer to their heritage and customs.
Children across the kingdom are encouraged to take part.
"I dressed my girls in traditional fustans [dresses] and they were super excited to not to have to wear their school uniform to celebrate Founding Day," said Samah Adullah, who lives in Riyadh.
"My daughter's school worked on creating an elaborate display of paintings and other artworks once Founding Day was announced," Jeddah resident Raneen Bandar told The National.
"All the children were assigned different works – some informative and some creative.
"My daughter, who is 11, chose to write an informative piece with facts and history of the kingdom. All their works are displayed in the school hall, which gives kids a sense of achievement and pride that they could participate in a national activity," Ms Bandar said.
Founding Operetta, a keynote theatrical and musical performance featuring Saudi stars such as Mohammed Abdo, Abdul Majeed Abdullah, Rashed Al Fares, Majed Al Mohandes and Dalia, will be staged in Riyadh on Wednesday.
The show shines a spotlight on six historical figures who shaped the land and its people over three centuries.
The Nejnaj is a countrywide event that will explain the kingdom's development and achievements through presentations in Jeddah, Dammam, Taif, Hail, Tabuk, Riyadh, Abha and Al Baha.
Photography will be used to bring the history of each region to life, and storytellers will share tales of real lives from Saudi Arabia's past.
The National Museum in Riyadh will host a traditional majlis event from Tuesday to Thursday that will include interactive workshops to celebrate all Saudi culture.
In Dhahran, the King Abdulaziz Centre for World Culture (Ithra) will celebrate Founding Day with activities that include a camel parade, traditional A’arda dance at the Lush Garden, a poetry night, and an Ithra fashion competition and fashion show to celebrate traditional couture. The events run from Tuesday to Saturday.
Restaurants throughout Saudi Arabia will mark Founding Day. In the capital, David Burke restaurant will host a live music performance by Saudi singer Sarah Chafei on Tuesday.
On Thursday, celebrations will end as the sky over Riyadh is lit up with fireworks and drone displays.
Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
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What is blockchain?
Blockchain is a form of distributed ledger technology, a digital system in which data is recorded across multiple places at the same time. Unlike traditional databases, DLTs have no central administrator or centralised data storage. They are transparent because the data is visible and, because they are automatically replicated and impossible to be tampered with, they are secure.
The main difference between blockchain and other forms of DLT is the way data is stored as ‘blocks’ – new transactions are added to the existing ‘chain’ of past transactions, hence the name ‘blockchain’. It is impossible to delete or modify information on the chain due to the replication of blocks across various locations.
Blockchain is mostly associated with cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Due to the inability to tamper with transactions, advocates say this makes the currency more secure and safer than traditional systems. It is maintained by a network of people referred to as ‘miners’, who receive rewards for solving complex mathematical equations that enable transactions to go through.
However, one of the major problems that has come to light has been the presence of illicit material buried in the Bitcoin blockchain, linking it to the dark web.
Other blockchain platforms can offer things like smart contracts, which are automatically implemented when specific conditions from all interested parties are reached, cutting the time involved and the risk of mistakes. Another use could be storing medical records, as patients can be confident their information cannot be changed. The technology can also be used in supply chains, voting and has the potential to used for storing property records.
Company%20Profile
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Company profile
Name: Fruitful Day
Founders: Marie-Christine Luijckx, Lyla Dalal AlRawi, Lindsey Fournie
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2015
Number of employees: 30
Sector: F&B
Funding so far: Dh3 million
Future funding plans: None at present
Future markets: Saudi Arabia, potentially Kuwait and other GCC countries
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
Expert advice
“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”
Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles
“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”
Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre
“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”
Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
